Chapter 7 Perpetual Tax Prevention How would you like to give yourself a big, fat raise, making more money than you ve ever made in your life, and see the world at the same time? If that idea grabbed your attention and lit a fire under your imagination, then keep reading and we will show you how! Most countries on the planet abide by a 183 Day rule. The reason? 365 days in a year, and 183 days is JUST OVER half a year. Stay in a country for 183 days or longer, and you are obligated to pay taxes. Stay in a country for a shorter amount of time, and you do not have any tax obligation. You see where this is going. You now know the importance of obtaining multiple passports and setting up shop in countries around the world. Building on that, the plan is to simply start hopping between your various places of residence, mixing in some vacation hot spots (outlined in the next chapter) as the mood strikes you, always moving before your 183 days are up. Since you are never in one place long enough to meet the threshold, you are never in one place long enough to owe any taxes to that country s local government. This, of course, turns you into a kind of Digital-Age Nomad, but is that a bad thing? Think about it for a second. In the United States, odds are good that you are paying about 30% of your income in taxes. By adopting this strategy and combining it with the others outlined in this book, you are effectively giving yourself a 30% raise.
What do you think your boss reaction would be if you walked into his office and demanded a 30% raise? Can you envision ANY scenario where you wouldn t be laughed out of his office and possibly fired? Probably not, but you can give YOURSELF a raise of that magnitude with relative ease. Of course, some of the destinations you ll bounce around to will be the countries you selected to buy additional residences in, but if you mean to adopt this strategy, then that might change, shade, or color the list of countries you ll consider. Even if it doesn t, these countries should get a closer look because they re ideally suited TO this kind of strategy. The Seychelles One of the most popular locations to set up an offshore corporation, did you know that it is also an incredibly easy place to visit? It is! In fact, it is one of the most open nations on the planet for tourists. Citizens of literally every country on the planet can obtain a tourist visit for up to 90 days, upon their arrival. Once there, visitors can file extensions for up to a year, in three month increments. There is a lot to see and do in the country, and if you ve set up an offshore corporation or bank account here, then that s as good an excuse as any to pop in for a periodic visit, just to check in on your affairs, while netting yourself a good vacation in the same moment. Ecuador There are only ten countries where you re required to obtain a visa before entering, giving Ecuador one of the most lenient countries on the planet. In the overwhelming number of cases, you can get a 90 day, visa-free visit to the country, and this clock can be reset simply by paying a day (or weekend) visit to nearby Colombia. Note that Colombia is on our recommended list for second passports, making this an ideal vacation destination to consider.
Real Estate here is incredibly cheap, so you may decide you want to do more than just visit repeatedly. It deserves an honorable mention in terms of countries you may want to consider getting an additional passport from. Mexico Mexico probably deserves an honorable mention when it comes to countries to get a second passport from, but it didn t actually make our earlier list. Even if you re reluctant to live there full time, it is still a magnificent place to visit. There is so much to see and do in the country that you ll find yourself wanting to come back year after year. You ll find beautiful beaches, cheap prices, and a friendly population. A superb place to visit, and in most cases, you ll be able to stay up to 180 days, making it a great destination in terms or running out the annual clock, too. Hong Kong You would need quite a lot of money to set up a permanent or semi-permanent residency here, but as a place to visit, it is hard to top Hong Kong. Sleek and modern, with all the comforts and conveniences you re accustomed to, and then some, you ll find yourself wanting to return to Hong Kong year after year. Bear in mind that Hong Kong is an excellent place to set up an offshore bank account, so you can easily kill two birds with one stone, visiting and enjoying all that Hong Kong has to offer, while periodically checking on your investments, if you ve chosen to open an account here. Cambodia Frequently, the US issues travel advisories against Cambodia, warning US citizens to steer clear of this country. There have even been suggestions that Cambodian cities lack street lights, making it a dangerous place to wander around at night. None of these things are true. As a country, it is warm, open, friendly and accepting. This is another instance of the US government s fearmongering in order to keep its citizens from venturing out and exploring the world to see for themselves. Don t buy into the hype. Give Cambodia a serious look if you re genuinely interested in becoming a citizen of the world. You ll be very glad you did. Note: You can easily and inexpensively obtain a 30- day visa when you arrive. You won t be able to stay for an extended period, but if you re looking for stopover between other destinations, then this is a great choice.
Note here, that we have to give an honorable mention to Panama, which we ve mentioned before as a great place to get a second passport from. Panama also has extremely lenient visitation rules, especially for Westerners. Almost anyone can get a 180-day tourist visa, upon arrival, and the country has the added benefit of utilizing the US Dollar as its currency, so there is no currency conversion to worry over. Note, however, that when collapse comes, you can expect Panama to quickly adopt their own currency so as to avoid the problems that the United States will endure. That doesn t make it a deal breaker by any means, but it is something to keep tucked away in the back of your mind. This is a variant of the Perpetual Tourist strategy, and relies upon the list of countries we gave you earlier when we recommended acquiring your second, third, fifth, or whatever number of additional passports you d like to acquire. The idea here is to simply divide your time between your various bases of operation in the different countries you have selected to set up residency in. If your main goal is to maximize your personal freedom, but don t want to live in a slum or a hellhole like Somalia (which clearly offers no-holds-barred freedoms, but is not recommended by any means), then you re in luck. You should consider any of the following countries, adding to your list of possibilities; New Zealand Ranked at the third most peaceful nation on the planet, this country ticks a lot of boxes in terms of freedoms for those living there. Yes, taxes are somewhat high, so if you re looking for a country with maximal economic freedom, then this will probably be a deal breaker for you, but the nation is strongly devoted to the freedoms of its people, has a temperate climate, and some of the most breathtaking landscapes on the planet. Have you seen the Lord of the Rings movies? That s New Zealand.
Well worth your consideration. Bermuda Three of the nations on our list are countries that have no income tax laws governing the people living there. Its laid back island culture makes it an ideal location to consider, and it is relatively close to the US if you want to stick fairly close to home, while enjoying more freedoms than your home country offers. It is a bit more expensive than life and extended vacations in the Bahamas, but it is still well worth considering. The Bahamas Another island culture, and another country with no income tax laws. The Bahamas also make an excellent choice to consider, for all the same reasons that Bermuda does. Imagine that? The prospect of living in an island paradise and enjoying more freedoms. That s absolutely remarkable. This island nation is one of the best values in the Caribbean. The UAE (United Arab Emerites) You might be shocked and surprised to find ANY country in the Middle East on the list of nations with minimal interference, and it is true the UAE has a few issues, not the least of which is imperfect religious freedom. Despite this fact, what most people really care about in terms of freedom is ECONOMIC freedom, and here, the UAE shines. No income tax. At all. That alone makes it well worth considering. Iceland The only member nation of the EU on our list, Iceland is a stellar location that, due to its remoteness, barely notices the various (sometimes draconian) restrictions that EU laws place on member nations. Remember, the EU didn t turn Europe into The United States of Europe. The laws of the EU are more like stern suggestions, carrying significantly less weight that Federal laws in the United States. Iceland s isolation and distance from the rest of Europe makes it a fantastic choice to consider. Note, however, that life here is significantly more expensive than other parts of the world.